Tetanus in an unvaccinated child in the United Kingdom: case report

Tetanus is a serious infectious disease that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. It is uncommon in developed countries like the United Kingdom due to widespread immunization. However, cases are still being reported in children who are not immunized. We report a case of an 8-year-old Asian boy who had missed his childhood vaccinations but had been living in the United Kingdom for 3 years. He presented with trismus and muscle spasms needing ventilation in Paediatric Intensive Care for 3 weeks. The case highlights the importance of vaccinating newly arrived children.